Did You Know...

**Written by Doug Powers

The US Postal Service posted a $16 billion loss in fiscal 2012, and if you’ve been among those asking for official USPS apparel to show your support while helping cover the enormous pre-funded benefits nut, your wish will soon be in the mail:

First the end of Saturday mail, now a new clothing line. The U.S. Postal Service is taking unprecedented steps to make itself relevant and profitable these days.

The cash-strapped agency announced plans on Tuesday to launch a new line of all-weather apparel and accessories sometime next year.

Move over, upscale North Face. Or should it be the grittier Carhartt brand that worries?

The Postal Service chose “Rain Heat & Snow” as its own brand name, alluding to its unofficial motto: “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stay these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”

Only men’s apparel and accessories will be available initially, but the agency plans to add a women’s line in the future, it said Tuesday.

If the line of apparel takes off they can forget about that whole “delivering mail” part of the business. Major USPS budget problems will no doubt be one topic of conversation at their $2.2 million conference next month.

Possible US Postal Service clothing store names include “Budget GAP” and “Abercrombie & Clavin” — the latter of which would also sell shoes:

(h/t True Soldier)

**Written by Doug Powers

Twitter @ThePowersThatBe